Buffalo LinkStation 210 4TB
Score: 56/100
Synology DS223 2-bay
Score: 76/100Rankings
The DS223 offers 36 TB of raw capacity, 2 GB RAM and a familiar DSM experience in a compact 2-bay chassis. It's a solid, budget-friendly choice for backups and file sharing, though network speed and lack of SSD cache keep it from high-performance scenarios.
The Buffalo LinkStation 210 4 TB offers a ready-to-go 4 TB drive, gigabit networking and basic cloud-like features in a compact, low-power package. It's ideal for home users needing simple backup and media streaming, but lacks RAID, USB 3.0 and modern macOS compatibility.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
6 TB | 36 TBbest | |
1 | 2best | |
1 Gbpsbest | 1 Gbpsbest | |
— | 4best | |
0.256 GB | 2 GBbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 24 W | 16.31 Wbest |
| ↓ lower better | — | 18.2 dBbest |
2 yearsbest | 2 yearsbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Security(1) | ||
OS Compatibility | Windows XP‑11, macOS up to 10.10, iOS, Android | DSM 7.x |
Performance(3) | ||
CPU Model | Marvell ARMADA 370 | Realtek RTD1619B |
System Memory (GB) | 0.256 GB | 2 GB |
Power Consumption (Active) (W) | 24 W | 16.31 W |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Weight (kg) | 1.1 kg | 0.88 kg |
Power Supply Type | External AC adapter | 60W AC adapter |
Connectivity(2) | ||
Supported Network Protocols | TCP/IP, CIFS/SMB, HTTP, HTTPS, AFP, FTP, NTP, BitTorrent | SMB,NFS,AFP,FTP,WebDAV,iSCSI,HTTP/HTTPS,LDAP,CalDAV,SNMP,Kerberos |
USB Ports | 1 | 3 |
Storage & Capacity(4) | ||
Maximum Raw Capacity (TB) | 6 TB | 36 TB |
Drive Bays | 1 | 2 |
RAID Support | None | RAID 0,RAID 1,Basic,SHR |
Supported Drive Types | HDD | 3.5" SATA HDD,2.5" SATA SSD/HDD |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Reviewers highlight its plug-and-play nature, media streaming, and energy efficiency, while criticizing the absence of RAID, USB 2.0 limitation, and lack of advanced features.
Users appreciate quick setup, quiet operation and the included 4 TB drive, though some encounter Windows 10 mapping issues and wish for easier HDD upgrades.
“Practically sets itself up - very fast transfer speeds”
“Replaced my old Lenovo NAS - much better and easier to use”
“Could not be mapped as a shared drive from Windows 10”
Professional reviewers praise the DS223 as an excellent entry-level NAS that delivers the core Synology experience at a competitive price, but note the single 1 GbE port, lack of SSD caching, and insufficient hardware for transcoding or virtualization.
Everyday users consistently commend the straightforward setup, dependable operation, and quiet fan, while complaints focus on limited network speed, absence of SSD caching, and the cap on maximum drive capacity.
